Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated internet information segments

ABSTRACT

A system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet. A computer-based system receives a video program with embedded uniform resource locators (URLs). The URLs, the effective addresses of locations or Web sites on the Internet, are interpreted by the system and direct the system to the Web site locations to retrieve related Web pages. Upon receipt of the Web pages by the system, the Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display. The video program signal can be displayed in a video window on a conventional personal computer screen. The actual retrieved Web pages are time stamped to also be displayed, on another portion of the display screen, when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video window. As an alternative, the computer-based system receives the URLs directly through an Internet connection, at times specified by TV broadcasters in advance. The system interprets the URLs and retrieves the appropriate Web pages. The Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time. This alternative system allows the URLs to be entered for live transmission to the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/998,592 filed Nov. 16, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/633,347 filed Aug. 4, 2000, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/472,385 filed Dec. 23,1999, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/109,945filed Jul. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,768, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/615,143 filed Mar.14, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,181, which is a continuation-in-partof U.S. application Ser. No. 08/613,144 filed Mar. 8, 1996, abandoned,and is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/622,474 filed Mar. 25,1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,664, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Today, the capabilities of computers to provide massive amountsof educational and entertainment information has exploded with theInternet. The Internet has the power to transform society throughunprecedented levels of information flow between members. Currently,on-line systems offer a variety of different services to users,including news feeds, electronic databases (either searchable by theuser directly on the on-line system, or downloadable to the user's owncomputer), private message services, electronic newsletters, real timegames for play by several users at the same time, and job placementservices, to name a few. However, today, most on-line communicationsoccur merely through text. This currently stands in great contrast tothe audio/visual presentation of the alternative electronic medium,television. However, it is expected that as multi-media's incessantgrowth continues, audio/visual programs will proliferate and text willbecome less and less dominant in the on-line environment. Even thoughthese programs will be introduced, the Internet, will remain essentiallyuser unfriendly due to its very massiveness, organization, andrandomness. Simply stated, there is no order or direction in theInternet. Specific pieces of information are many times hard to find,and harder yet, is the ability to put that piece of information into ameaningful context.

[0003] Television, on the other hand, has been criticized for being apassive medium—“chewing gum for the eyes,” as Fred Allen once observed.Television has always been something you watched, not something you do.Many social critics believe that the passivity television depends on hasseeped into our entire culture, turning a nation of citizens into anation of viewers. While interactive television systems have increasedthe level of user interaction, and thus, provided greater learning andentertainment opportunities, vast information resources such asdatabases are inaccessible from such a medium.

[0004] What is needed is a means to close the gap between videoprogramming and the information superhighway of the Internet. What isneeded is a wider, richer experience integrating audio/visual andtextual database elements into an organized unique interactive,educational, entertainment experience. Currently, the Internet is arepository of information on virtually any subject. However, what isneeded is a mechanism for combining the user-friendly visual experienceof television with the vast information resources of the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The system of the present invention combines broadcast televisionprogramming and/or video programming which appears on a VHS or Betatape, CD-ROM, DVD or other medium, or video programming at a videoserver (hereinafter “video programming”) with the massive Internet,creating a new and powerful educational and entertainment medium. Thesystem allows consumers to receive more information in a more efficientmanner than either television or the Internet alone. Consumers not onlycan see a news report on television, but they can also read pertinentinformation about the report, as well as explore related informationabout the story. The program becomes the introduction to a particularsubject, rather than the entire subject itself. The act of viewing aprogram has now become a more engaging, enriching experience.

[0006] The system can also create a more intimate relationship betweenthe viewer and the program. The user might be solving problems orperforming virtual experiments on the Internet site that a teacher isdiscussing in an educational television program. Similarly, the consumermight be solving problems that the fictional characters in a televisionprogram must solve. In both cases, the consumer is an active participantin the process, rather than a passive observer.

[0007] Instead of an undirected and unfocused exploration of Internetsites, by synching specific Internet pages to the video signal, thesystem puts the Internet in context. The television program producersnow can decide what additional information to offer their audience. Thismaterial can now be seen in the context of the television program.

[0008] An additional advantage is that consumers don't have to searchthrough the literally hundreds of millions of pages on the Internet tofind appropriate material. The material has already been filtered by theprogram producers and delivered to the consumer automatically.

[0009] Another advantage of the system is that it changes the nature ofadvertising. Since additional information can be given to consumersautomatically, advertising can now be more substantive, allowingcustomers to make more informed choices. Now, the act of purchasing aproduct seen on television can be streamlined—the consumer can be giventhe choice of buying the product instantly using the two-waycapabilities of the system.

[0010] In addition, users can take advantage of the two-way capabilitiesof the Internet to respond to polls, to send e-mail or to link toadditional sites. For example, a viewer watching a television newsprogram, through the system of the invention, can receive a stream ofWeb pages which provide additional, specific information relating to thenews content—whether background on the Presidential primaries or thelatest change in interest rates.

[0011] The video programming and corresponding Internet pages can beviewed on personal computers equipped with a television card, but theopen software-based approach enables anyone with a television set andJAVA enabled PC to experience the system of the invention.

[0012] By marrying the appeal of video with the two-way data transfercapabilities of the Internet, the system creates a powerful new medium.Video producers and Internet site creators can enhance their content toextend their brand identity and differentiate their program offerings tothe millions of people who are spending more time navigating through theresources of the World Wide Web rather than watching television;advertisers can speak more directly to consumers by directly sending Webpages to the consumer instead of only displaying Web addresses in theircommercials; and consumers can gain a new level of interest andinteractivity over a video-based medium. In addition to providingsignificant and immediate benefits to broadcasters and advertisers, thesystem will also present educational programmers with a way to moreeffectively use Internet resources in the classroom.

[0013] Recently, several media companies have joined to create a systemfor linking the Internet and television on the personal computer, called“Intercast.” In this system, content will be provided simultaneouslywith the TV video signal. This system, however, requires that strippeddown Web pages be sent in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of thevideo signal, using up to three scan lines limiting effective bandwidthto approximately 28.8 kbps. This approach, however, requires specializedhardware to both insert the Web pages into the VBI and extract thesecodes at each PC since it takes up to three scan lines of the VBI. Thus,the complexity and cost of the PC is increased. Because the Web pagesare transmitted with the video signal, the Intercast system is not atrue “two-way” system, but merely a one-way “piggyback” system. Inaddition, the Intercast is an analog video product, and thus, cannothandle digital video data.

[0014] The system of the present invention, on the other hand, is a muchmore flexible, but less complex, system. The present invention supportseither analog or digital television broadcasts without broadcasters orend-users having to alter their existing systems, thus enablingbroadcasters to reach a wide audience within a short time.

[0015] In a first embodiment, the actual Web pages are not forced intothe very limited bandwidth of the vertical blanking interval (VBI).Instead, merely eight fields of line 21 of the VBI are used to deliverthe relevant Internet Web page addresses to the PC. These addresses arecalled “uniform resource locators” (URLs). The system then directs theparticular Web browser to retrieve the identified Web pages from theInternet. Upon receipt of the particular Web page(s), the system syncsthe Web page(s) to the video signal, and at the appropriate times,presents the Web pages on one portion of the computer screen with thetelevision video signal, shown in a window on another portion of thescreen, and thus, provides the synergistic Internet and televisionexperience. One of the advantages of the system of the present inventionis that no specialized chip set need be produced and implemented intothe standard PC. Thus, complexity is kept to a minimum.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the VBIis not used to transmit the URLs to the user. In this alternativeembodiment, member broadcasters enter the Internet through a memberaccount, and will be provided with a graphical user interface forpre-scheduling Internet addresses, or URLs, for transmission to users atparticular times of day. This interface could also be used to transmitreal time live transmissions of URLs to users at the same time as abroadcast. The URLs are stored in a “Link File” for later transmissionover the Internet to the user at the broadcasters entered time, whichcorresponds to the broadcast time of an associated program. The timingof URL's could be determined in advance or can be sent out live. Thisembodiment eliminates the need to place the URLs in the VBI, and alsoallows the broadcaster to store more than one Link File for transmissionto users in different time zones, for example. Further, more than onebroadcaster could access the same master schedule if desired, and add ordelete certain URLs to personalize the program for their localaudiences. Also, personalization can be taken to the single user, orsmall group of users, by having the system send a different stream ofURLs to each user, depending on a unique user profile, for example.Thus, the personalization feature of the present invention allows eachuser to receive information uniquely relevant to their interests,demographics, history, etc. This embodiment makes the transmission ofURLs to the user even less complex than the first embodiment disclosedherein.

[0017] Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide orderand direction to the Internet by using television signals to place,orient and control such information in a meaningful context.

[0018] It is an object of the present invention to create a moreintimate relationship between the viewer and the program by enrichingthe learning experience through the provision of more in-depthinformation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a diagram of the system design, showing the receipt anddecoding of video signals at the subscriber location using the method ofthe present invention.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an alternative system embodiment toachieve the integration of the Internet information with the videocontent by decoding the uniform resource locators at a server site andthen transmitting the URLs to the subscriber stations via the Internet.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the basic software design of thepresent invention.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another preferred system embodiment toachieve the direct transmission of URLs over the Internet to the user ata broadcaster's entered time without encoding the URLs into the VBI.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a diagram of another preferred embodiment including adigital cable box.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a diagram of another preferred embodiment including adigital T.V.

[0025]FIGS. 7 and 8 are a sample display provided to a student of alesson.

[0026]FIG. 9 is a diagram of the distributed Com Server embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] The system of the present invention combines the rich visualcapabilities of video with the vast resources of the Internet. As shownin FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention is a computer basedsystem for receiving a video program along with embedded uniformresource locators (URLs)—which direct the user's computer 16 to addresslocations, or Web sites, on the Internet 20 to retrieve related Webpages. These Web pages correspond to the video presentation. Theparticular video programming can be delivered in analog, digital ordigitally compressed formats (e.g., MPEG2) via any transmission means,including satellite, cable, wire, television broadcast or sent via theWeb.

[0028] The video programming is preferably created at a centralizedlocation, i.e., content creation 4 as shown in FIG. 1, for distributionto subscribers in their homes, for example. Program creation isaccomplished according to any conventional means known in the art. Aftera video program is created, uniform resource locators are embedded, inone preferred embodiment, into the vertical blank interval of the videoprogramming by the URL encoder 8, shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment,the URLs are encoded onto eight fields of line 21 of the VBI. Line 21 isthe line associated with close captioning, among other things. However,the URLs could also be embedded in other fields of the VBI, in thehorizontal portion of the video, as part of the audio channel, in anysubcarrier to the video, or if digital, in one of the data fields.

[0029] Although FIG. 1 shows the video with URLs over the sametransmission line, the URLs can be sent down independently of the videoprogram on a data channel. In this embodiment, the URLs can be forwardedto the remote sites either prior to initiation or during the program.Preferably, the URLs have associated time stamps which indicate to thesubscriber stations when, during the video program, to display theparticular Web pages addressed by the URLs. Alternatively, the user canselect when to call the particular Web pages for display with the videoprogram.

[0030] The particular information in line 21 is not part of the visualpart of the program, and thus, is not perceptible to the human eye,thereby making it ideal to send data information to the users. While thebandwidth capacity of line 21 is limited, because the system of thepresent invention transmits only the uniform resource locators (URLs),and not full Web pages, there is more than enough capacity. Furthermore,no additional hardware is necessary at the PC 16 to implement theelements of the present invention. Thus, the present invention has theadditional advantages of being very efficient and takes advantage ofconventional hardware.

[0031] Once the video program is created, it can be transmitted to usersites over any transmission means, including broadcast, cable,satellite, or Internet, and may reside on video servers. Furthermore,the video program, with or without embedded URLs, can be encoded on aVHS or Beta tape, DVD or other medium.

[0032] Preferably, each receiver station comprises any Intel ×86 machine(preferably a 486 processor, pentium processor, etc.), an AppleComputer, UNIX or any other type of standard computer workstation. Thelocal PC 16 is preferably connected to either a cable and/or broadcasttelevision connection or to a local VCR or other video source. At eachsubscriber site, the local personal computer 16 preferably receives thecable transmission by cable connection on the back of the personalcomputer 16. The video/audio program can then be processed for displayon the computer screen using any conventional PC card capable ofdisplaying NTSC signals on a computer monitor, such as a WinTV card. Inaddition to the cable connection, however, in the present inventionthere is also an Internet 20 connection created concurrently with thecable connection.

[0033] The Internet 20 connection can be via high-speed line, RF,conventional modem or by way of two-way cable carrying the videoprogramming. The local PC 16 has Internet access via any of the currentASCII software mechanisms. In a preferred embodiment, at each subscriberhome, an associated local URL decoder 12 receives the cable videotelevision program, as shown in FIG. 1. The local URL decoder 12extracts the URLs, preferably embedded in the vertical blankinginterval, with the use of any conventional VBI decoder device. The URLdecoder 12 may be either a stand-alone unit or a card which isimplemented into the personal computer 16.

[0034] In another preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the uniformresource locators (URLs) are encoded into the video in the same manneras described above. Again, the URLs are preferably encoded onto eightfields of line 21 of the VBI, but may also be sent independently of thevideo. In this embodiment, the URL decoder 24 is located at the serversite, as opposed to the subscriber location. When the decoder 24receives the video program signal, it strips out the URL codes on line21 of the VBI and delivers these codes independently to an Internetserver 28. The URL code is then subsequently delivered over the Internet20 to the user PC 16. Simultaneously, the video is broadcast overconventional broadcast or cable transmission means 36 to the user'spersonal computer 16.

[0035] Another preferred embodiment of the system, shown in FIG. 4, doesnot depend on, or even use, the VBI. In this preferred embodiment, thesystem will run an online service over the Internet 20. This servicewill be in the form of an Internet Web site 62 that provides auser-interface to a database 78 and to one or more associated dataservers 90. The service will provide member-accounts to TV broadcasters66 who sign up to use the system of the invention in conjunction withtheir broadcasts. Each member broadcaster will enter the service attheir computer 70 through Web browser software 74 using their memberaccount by entering various identification and password information.Once within their account, the member will be provided with a graphicaluser interface for pre-scheduling URLs for transmission to users 118over a direct Internet connection 94 at particular times of day. Thesame user interface, or a variation on it, can be used by broadcastersfor live transmission 82 of URLs to users at the same time as abroadcast 86.

[0036] For example, one example of this interface might be a schedulingcalendar (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) in which the broadcaster 66may allocate time periods which coincide with their broadcasts 86, andduring which they will send out URLs to their users to link to Webpages. For each time period (for example, a particular hour long periodduring the day) determined by the broadcaster 66 to be a broadcastperiod (a period during which they want to transmit URLs that correspondto a television show being broadcast from their TV broadcast facility110 to the external TV 114 of the user 118 at that time), thebroadcaster 66 may then enter a series of URLs into an associated file(“Link File”) for transmission over the Internet 20 at that time. ThisLink File might have a user interface such as a spreadsheet, table, orlist, or it could be simply a tab-delimited or paragraph-delimitedtext-file. As an example, each of the records in the Link File consistsof a data structure which could contain information such as:

[0037] (<timecode>,<URL>,<label or title>,<additionalinformation>,<additional information>, . . . )

[0038] The above data structure is just one example. The records in theLink File preferably specify the time, Internet address (i.e. URL),label (such as an associated name), and some optional additionalinformation, for each Web page the broadcaster 66 desires to launchduring a show.

[0039] When a broadcaster 66 modifies their calendar and/or the LinkFile associated with any given time period(s) in their calendar, thisinformation is saved into the database 78 that is attached to the site62. Each broadcaster 66 may maintain multiple calendars in the database78 if they broadcast in different time zones, for example.

[0040] The database 78 provides the Link File records for upcoming timeperiods to a server 90, which may be one server or a distributed networkof server programs on multiple computers across the network, to beutilized for scaling to large national or global audiences. The server90 provides the Link File records, including the URLs, to the user'spersonal computer 16, which is connected via a network. Examples ofpossible networks include the public Internet 94, a direct privatenetwork, or even a wireless network.

[0041] One feature of the above embodiment is that one or morebroadcasters 66 may utilize the same schedule in the database 78 fortheir own broadcasts 86 or during the same broadcast. For example, anetwork broadcaster may develop a master schedule and various affiliatebroadcasters may subscribe to that schedule or copy it (in the database)and add or delete specific URLs in the schedule for their localaudiences or unique programming. This scheme enables affiliates toinsert URLs for local advertisers or local subjects into a sequence ofmore general URLs provided by their network broadcaster 66. In otherwords, the affiliate can add links that ride on the network feed andthen redistribute it to their local audiences.

[0042] The above embodiment can also enable personalization in the formof unique series of URLs specific to each user's unique profile, whichis directly sent over the Internet 20 to each user's specific clientsoftware 106. This can be achieved from the broadcaster 66 to eachindividual user 118, or to particular collections of users. Toaccomplish personalization, the service may send a different stream ofURLs to each user's client software program 106. The stream of URLs sentwould depend on a user profile stored in the database 78 or the clientsoftware program 106, a user profile which is built on demand or overtime for each user 118 based on criteria such as the location of theuser, choices the user makes while using a client software program 106,or choices the broadcaster 66 makes during a broadcast 86, or automaticchoices made by an algorithm (such as a filter) residing on the service62. Personalization enables each user to receive URLs which are uniquelyrelevant to their interests, demographics, history, or behavior in thesystem.

[0043] System Operation

[0044] Once the URLs have reached the personal computer 16, systemoperation is similar for all of the embodiments diagramed in FIGS. 1, 2,and 4.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, a JAVA enabled browser 98 as well asspecialized software 106 for performing part of the method of thepresent invention are installed on the computer 16. The JAVA enabledbrowser 98 allows the computer 16 to retrieve the Web pages 102 and ispreferred software, since it is platform independent, and thus, enablesefficient and flexible transfer of programs, images, etc., over theInternet 20. The specialized interface software 106 (hereinafter,“client software”), attached as Appendix A, acts as an interface betweenthe video programming and the Internet functions of the presentinvention. The client software 106 retrieves URLs from the video program(embodiment of FIG. 1) or directly from the Internet connection(embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 4), interprets these URLs and directs theJAVA enabled browser 98 to retrieve the particular relevant Web pages102, and synchronizes the retrieved Web pages to the video content fordisplay on the user's computer 16, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 andexplained in more detail below.

[0046] In a preferred method, the URLs are encoded and embedded into thevideo signal by inserting them into the vertical blanking interval(VBI), as mentioned above.

[0047] In another preferred embodiment, the URLs are entered by memberTV broadcasters 66 along with specified times for transmitting the URLsto the user. At the appropriate times, the URLs are sent directly overthe Internet to the user's PC 16 via the client software 106 over adirect point-to-point or multicasting connection.

[0048] One method of the present invention has the capability to detectidentical URLs sent directly after one another which causes the browsernot to fetch URLs in these particular cases. As shown in FIG. 3, oncethe URL code is received at the computer, the client software 106 firstinterprets the URL and determines in step 42 whether the particular URLhas been received previously. If it has already been received, the nextreceived URL is interpreted for determination of prior receipt. If theparticular URL has not been detected before, the software checks formisspelling in step 46 and any other errors, and if errors exist,corrects these particular errors. Once again, it is determined whetherthe URL has been previously detected. If it has, the next URL isaccessed in step 38. If the URL has not been detected, the specific URLis added to the UTRL list in step 54. The specific URL is then sent tothe Web browser, preferably a JAVA enabled browser 98. Upon receipt ofthe URL, the browser 98, in step 58, will access the Web site address122 (FIG. 4) indicated by the URL and retrieve the cited Web page(s) 102via the Internet.

[0049] Viewers can view the integrated presentation in the followingmanner. As mentioned above, the video signal is processed and displayedon a video window on the PC screen using a WinTV card, for example. Thecorresponding audio is forwarded to the audio card and sent to the PCspeakers.

[0050] The actual retrieved Web pages 102, referenced by the URL, areoptionally time stamped to be displayed on the computer screen whenpredetermined related video content is displayed in the video window,thus, enlightening and enhancing the video presentation by providingin-depth information related to the video content thereto. Anothersection on the screen is also preferably used to represent anoperational control panel. This control panel provides a list of theURLs that have been broadcast and correspondingly received by thecomputer 16. This control panel is updated to add a URL code each time anew URL code is received by the PC 16. This list gives the subscriberthe flexibility to go back and retrieve particularly informative orinteresting Web pages that have already been displayed earlier in theprogram, or alternatively, to print them out for future reference.Furthermore, the list could include URLs referring to Web pages notdisplayed with the broadcast program, but that provide furtherinformation on a certain topic of interest to the viewer.

[0051] The present invention can best be understood with reference to anexample. A viewer can begin watching a musical video featuring a newband, for example. As the video is received by the PC 16, URLs areeither being received with the video signal or are being receiveddirectly via the Internet 20 or another data channel, and are beinginterpreted by the client software 106. Upon direction and command, theJAVA enabled browser 98 retrieves particular Web pages 102 from Internet20 Web sites identified in the URLs. These Web pages 102 will then bedisplayed on the video screen at particular times. Thus, for example,while the viewer is watching the music video, biographical informationon the band can also be displayed adjacently to the video window. Webpages 102 could also include an upcoming concert schedule, or even audioclips of the band's music may be downloaded from the Internet 20. Asanother example, a user could be watching a program relating tofinancial news. While the narrator is shown discussing high tech stocks,Web pages corresponding to detailed financial performance information onhigh tech stocks, environment and characteristics can be displayed withthe video on the computer screen. If the personalization features areincluded, Web pages associated with a particular user's stock can befetched and displayed on the computer screen with the video program.When the program narrator switches to a discussion on the weeklyperformance of the Dow Jones, Web pages presenting related financialperformance information can be simultaneously displayed. Thus, it isevident that the present invention profoundly enriches the viewing andlearning experience.

[0052] It is understood that there can exist alternative embodiments foruse with the present invention. For example, the user can view theinteractive program using a television set 114 or other display monitorin conjunction with the display screen of the personal computer 16. Inthis embodiment, the relevant Web pages are shown on the personalcomputer 16 while the video program is displayed on the televisionmonitor 114. In this alternative embodiment, a cable set top boxreceives the television program from the multichannel cable. Thepersonal computer 16 also receives the video program from themulti-channel cable and extracts the URLs, embedded in the verticalblanking interval of the video signal or directly transmitted 94 overthe Internet 20. The client software 106 extracts the URLs and retrievesthe particular Web pages as described above. The Web pages are thensynchronized with the particular video frames and presented to the user.It is understood that a hyperlink may exist on the Web site that willallow the user to automatically load the client software and call up thespecific television channel referenced in the Web site. For example,someone browsing the Internet 20 may come upon a major televisionnetwork's Web site. They scroll to an interesting story then click on anhyperlink to turn on the software which tunes the TV window to thenetwork to enhance the information residing at the Web site.

[0053] Furthermore, instead of receiving the video program from atransmission means, the video program can be addressed directly from theuser site if the video program, with or without embedded URLs, is storedon a VHS, Beta, DVD or other medium. In this embodiment, the user PC 16and/or television 114 are connected to a VCR, DVD player or otherappropriate device.

[0054]FIGS. 5 and 6 show two alternative embodiments for use with thepresent invention. For example, the user can view the interactiveprogram using a television set 18 or other display monitor inconjunction with a digital cable box 140, as shown in FIG. 5. In thisembodiment, the digital cable box 140 performs the functions of thepersonal computer 16 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 5, the client software is stored in memory in the digital cablebox 140. In the preferred embodiment, the digital cable box 140 includestwo tuners, thus allowing both the Web Page and the Video program to besimultaneously viewed on the same screen. If Video and Webstream,however, are carried on one channel, then only one timer is necessary.

[0055] The client software retrieves URLs from the received videoprogram, directly from the Internet connection 20 or via a separate datachannel, interprets these URLs and directs the Web enabled browser toretrieve the particular relevant Web pages, and synchronizes theretrieved Web pages to the video content for display on the television18, as shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the relevant Web pages areshown in one frame of the television 18 while the video program isdisplayed in another frame.

[0056] In this alternative embodiment, the digital cable set top box 140receives the television program from the multichannel cable. The URLscan be encoded into the digital program channel using MPEG 1, MPEG2,MPEG4, MPEG7 or any other compression video scheme. Alternatively, theURLs can be transmitted to the digital cable boxes 140 from an Internetserver 148. The digital cable box 140 decodes the URLs from the digitalvideo signal or directly transmitted over the Internet 20. The clientsoftware decodes the URLs and retrieves the particular Web pages asdescribed above. The Web pages are then preferably synchronized with theparticular video frames and presented to the user.

[0057] As with all the embodiments described above, instead of receivingthe video program from a transmission means, the video program can beaddressed directly from a local video source 144 if the video program,with or without embedded URLs, is stored on a VHS, Beta, DVD or othermedium. In this embodiment, the digital cable box 140 is connected to aVCR, DVD player or other appropriate device.

[0058]FIG. 6 discloses an embodiment where a digital TV 152 is theremote reception unit. In this embodiment, the digital TV 152 performsthe functions of the personal computer, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, andthe digital cable box 140 shown in FIG. 5. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6, a processor means and memory are incorporated into the digitalTV 152. Further, the client software and Web browser software areimplemented into memory in the digital TV 152. All of the functionsdescribed above with reference to the other embodiments are performed ina similar manner by the digital TV 152 embodiment.

[0059] Although the digital cable box/TV 140, 18 and digital TV 152,shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, are incorporated into the embodiment of FIG. 1,in substitution for the PC 16, they also could be substituted for the PC16 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0060] The user can view the video and web content on one screen (in twowindows), or with the video on one display screen and the Web content ona separate display monitor. Alternatively, the user can access the videoor web content separately. Thus, the user can branch from video to webcontent and vice versa.

[0061] The present invention is well-suited to the educationenvironment. In this embodiment, students and teachers access one ormore Web servers. The software components include instructor and studentuser software, authoring software and database assessment software. Inone such embodiment, an instructor uses content creation software on apersonal computer to easily integrate into their curriculum currentinformation published on the Web, through an easy to use interface 156such as that shown in FIG. 7. The instructor creates a playlist (i.e.linkfile) 160, the playlist 160 comprising a listing of Web pages, textnotes and questions. The Web sites and questions are set forth in apredetermined order and can be assigned times. Preferably, the URLsidentifying the Web site and time stamps are sent automatically to thedesktop of each student in the virtual community, either during playbackof a pre-recorded program or during a live event.

[0062] At each of the student workstations, the program is directed bythe playlist 160. In other words, the playlist 160 provides thestructure for the program. At predetermined times as dictated by theplaylist 160, the browser will go fetch and display a Web page in aframe on the computer screen. Because program events can be set up inthis manner at predetermined times, the entire program and playlist canbe prerecorded and stored in a Web database for later access bystudents.

[0063] A significant advantage of the present invention for educationalapplications is that the students and the instructor can be locatedanywhere, as long as they are all connected to the Web. Because a serveris essentially controlling the program, the instructor output comes fromthe server and the student workstations get automatically updated by theWeb server.

[0064] This educational embodiment integrates Web content and othermedia with collaborative groupware functionality to create aninteractive environment for students and teachers. In this embodiment,the student can receive a traditional video lesson through a frame inhis or her Web browser, or from a television. Simultaneously, thepresent invention provides separate frames, an example of which is shownin FIG. 8, in the browser displaying: (1)Web pages 176 automaticallydelivered to each student's desktop with information or exercises thatcomplement the video presentation; (2) a chat dialogue frame 168 forconversing with the instructor and/or other students online; and (3), aninteractive playlist 164 of Web pages and questions comprising thelesson.

[0065] In the student interface of FIG. 8, each student can perform avirtual experiment during a physics lesson to learn about gravity, forexample. Further, the students are conversing with one another and theinstructor in the chat dialogue frame 168. They may also send Web pagesto one another and provide answers to questions from the teacher via thechat dialogue frame 168 of the student interface 176. With the chatfeature, students may break into subgroups for collaborative learning.Whenever a student in the group sends a message, the message is sent tothe Internet server 20 and every other student in the subgroup receivesand views the message in their Chat dialogue frame 168.

[0066] The instructor, however, may retain control over the chatfeature. For example, the instructor can terminate the chat feature orweb pushing to terminate unruly on-line conversations or the sending ofWeb pages by students.

[0067] Unlike conventional distance learning systems, the presentinvention is more powerful by allowing the instructor to freely andconveniently exercise almost any time of testing strategy. Theinstructor can test students using a combination of the Chat dialoguefeature and Web pages. For example, multiple choice questions and shortanswer questions can appear in the Chat window 168. Essay questions,requiring longer answers, become Web pages. As mentioned above, studentscan perform virtual experiments on-line. Once the instructor's personalcomputer receives student answers, student scoring can be presented tothe instructor in any format including tables, charts, diagrams, bargraphs, etc. The instructor, thus, can analyze the results and has thecapability of providing real-time feedback to the students.

[0068] Students can also receive individualized feedback via branchedinteractive audio, video and/or graphics responses. For example, theworkstation may branch to a particular audio response, preferablyprerecorded in the instructor's own voice, based on the student responseto a multiple choice question. In this embodiment, a plurality ofpotential audio responses are made available at the student'sworkstation according to any one of the methodologies set forth in U.S.Pat. No. 5,537,141, entitled DISTANCE LEARNING SYSTEM, hereinincorporated by reference. Alternatively, personalized video, audio andgraphics segments can be delivered and displayed to the student based ona student answer or personal profile in the manner set forth in U.S.Pat. No. 5,724,091, entitled COMPRESSED DIGITAL DATA INTERACTIVE PROGRAMSYSTEM, herein incorporated by reference.

[0069] Responses to student answers can be more substantive based on thememory feature of the present invention. The memory feature is analgorithm that selects an interactive response to the user based notonly on the student's current answer selection, but also his or herprevious responses, as discussed in the aforementioned applications. Thealgorithm, preferably stored in memory at each student's workstation andunder processor control, merely selects an output interactive responsebased on student responses. As another example, if a student gets threeanswers in sequence right, he or she receives a more difficult question.If, however, the student misses one or more of the three questions, heor she receives an easier question.

[0070] In another embodiment of the present invention, a system isdescribed capable of handling the education requirements of severalschools in an efficiently designed network. The system shown in FIG. 9solves the problems inherent in attempting to service large numbers ofusers, the most obvious obstacles being the issues of load andperformance. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 9, communications servers180 distribute and route messages across a LAN, WAN and the Internet.Referring to FIG. 9, in the center of the diagram is the Group Databaseserver. Surrounding the database server are several Com Servers 180,each serving an area 192. Surrounding each Com Server 180 are squaresrepresenting user stations 188. The Communication Servers 180 areorganized in node relationships with one another.

[0071] Each node is responsible for serving an Area 192. An Area 192 isdefined as a Virtual location serviced by a single Communications Server180 (or “Corn Server”). An Area 192 may be a single school, an office,or may consist of several actual physical locations. The definingcharacteristic of an Area 192 is that messages sent from one member ofan Area 192 to another need not be routed outside of the servicing ComServer 180.

[0072] An Area member is analogous to the frequently used term “user.”For example, a “user” may be a student in the educational embodimentdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0073] The Distributed Communication System of FIG. 9 shall permit thedynamic addition of Communication Servers 180 within a group with littleor no administrative tasks as well as the addition of groups within anoverall communications network. A Communication Server group consists ofseveral defined Virtual Areas 192 (preferably, consisting of no morethan 250 members each), each area 192 serviced by a single Com Server180. This system shall allow members of one Area 192, or group to easilycommunicate with members of another Area 192 or group without anyconfiguration changes.

[0074] Generally, service of very large numbers of users has requiredlarge expensive servers and networks. As the user base increases,performance suffers and hardware must be upgraded to service the demand.

[0075] The Distributed Communication System of the present inventionallows the same, relatively inexpensive machines to serve anever-increasing user base. The technique by which this will beaccomplished will be through the routing of messages from one server toanother when necessary.

[0076] The method essentially follows the same core pattern as IProuting and DNS lookups. If a message is for a member not belonging tothe current Area 192 or group, the message shall be routed through theDistributed Communication System until its destination, or someone whoknows the destination and can deliver the message, is found.

[0077] The destination will be cached so subsequent messages for thatmember or group may be more efficiently delivered.

[0078] Referring again to FIG. 9, if a message is posted by member “A”and is intended only for the members of group 1 the message shall neverleave Area 1 Com Server. However, if the message is intended for membersof Area 1 and the members of Area 2, the Area 1 Com server forwards themessage to the group database server 184. The message shall be broadcastto the members of Area 1 and tagged in the database 184 as belonging toArea 2. The message is then routed to Area 2 and broadcast to Area 2members. With this technique any member can potentially send a messageto any other member. If the Area Com server 180 does not recognize thedestination, the message is forwarded up the line. Each Com server 180does not need to know about any other server 180. Messages are routeduntil they delivered. If undeliverable, the original sender is notified.

[0079] New Areas 192 can be added on the fly. When a new Com server 188is added to the network, it registers itself with the databaseapplication. Henceforth, any message destined for the new Area 192 canbe routed properly without altering the other Area Servers 180.

[0080] This method and system works for global messages or for user touser messages. Furthermore, new Groups may also be dynamically added.Once added, each new Group Database Server 184 registers itself with theexisting database servers 184. This distribution of load permits nearlyunlimited expansion with existing software and hardware. Each servermanages a finite number of members, cumulatively serving a growingcommunity.

[0081] Users need not be informed as to the particular Corn Server 180they should connect to. Members are directed to a single URL. Theselection of the server for user connection is determined by loadbalancing software. In this manner, the network may appear to be aglobal network of Servers or simply a local classroom.

[0082] The unique aspects of this architecture, using database serversas routing gateways, using techniques resembling IP routing and DNSlookup, enables this system to serve with minimum administration andconfiguration and with lower end, cost-effective hardware.

[0083] Using the foregoing embodiments, methods and processes, thesystem of the present invention creates a synergistic experiencecombining the vast resources of the Internet with the presentationcapabilities of television.

We claim:
 1. A system for providing a programming signal containing aprogram and at least one address identifying online content relating tothe program from an online information source, the system comprising: anencoder, wherein the encoder encodes the address and the program intothe programming signal; and a transmitter for transmitting theprogramming signal; wherein, at some time after provision of theaddress, the online content is automatically retrieved and played to auser in conjunction with the program.
 2. A system as described in claim1, wherein the encoder and the transmitter are located at a Web hostingsite.
 3. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the programmingsignal is transmitted via at least one transmission system selected fromthe group consisting of: the Internet, an intranet, terrestrialbroadcast, radio frequency broadcast, cable, satellite broadcast, fiberoptics, a telephone circuit, a wireless connection, a public network,and a private network.
 4. A system as described in claim 1, wherein theprogram is a previously recorded program on a recording medium.
 5. Asystem as described in claim 4, wherein the recording medium is at leastone selected from the group consisting of: VHS tape, compact disc,digital versatile disc, magnetic tape, computer hard drive, randomaccess memory, read only memory, CD ROM, a magnetic data storage medium,and an optical data storage medium.
 6. A system as described in claim 1,wherein the program is transmitted as a live event.
 7. A system asdescribed in claim 1 wherein the program comprises at least one formselected from the group consisting of: audio, video, data, graphics,animation, text, video stills, slow frame video, and multimedia.
 8. Asystem as described in claim 1, wherein the address is an Internet URL,the URL identifying the online information source which is an Internetsite.
 9. A system as described in claim 1, further comprising a memorydevice for storing the address prior to transmission.
 10. A system asdescribed in claim 9, wherein the memory device is at least one selectedfrom the group consisting of: a compact disc, a digital versatile disc,a magnetic tape, a computer hard drive, a random access memory, a readonly memory, a CD ROM, a server, a magnetic data storage medium, and anoptical data storage medium.
 11. A system as described in claim 1,wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.12. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the online informationsource is selected from the group consisting of: an intranet, theInternet, a public network, and a private network.
 13. A system asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the online content comprises content in aform selected from the group consisting of: text, graphics, video, data,audio, animation, video stills, slow frame video, and multimedia.
 14. Asystem as described in claim 1, wherein the program is a sports program.15. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the program is anadvertisement.
 16. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the onlinecontent is an advertisement.
 17. A system as described in claim 1,wherein the program is a motion picture program.
 18. A system asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the program is a game show program.
 19. Asystem as described in claim 1, wherein the program is a video program.20. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the program is a liveprogram.
 21. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the program is anaudio program.
 22. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the programis a music video program.
 23. A system as described in claim 1, whereinthe program is a news program.
 24. A system as described in claim 1,wherein the program comprises video and audio and the encoder embeds theaddress in a non-presented portion of the program.
 25. A system asdescribed in claim 24, wherein the non-presented portion of the programis a vertical blanking interval.
 26. A system as described in claim 24,wherein the non-presented portion of the program is a horizontalblanking interval.
 27. A system as described in claim 24, wherein thenon-presented portion of the program is the audio portion of theprogram.
 28. A system as described in claim 24, wherein thenon-presented portion of the program is a subcarrier of the program. 29.A system as described in claim 24, wherein the non-presented portion ofthe program is a data field.
 30. A system as described in claim 1,wherein the programming signal is in digital format.
 31. A system asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the programming signal is in analogformat.
 32. A system as described in claim 9, wherein multiple addressesare stored in a link file in the memory device.
 33. A system asdescribed in claim 32, wherein the link file is transmitted to the user.34. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the address is selectedbased on a profile of a collection of users.
 35. A system as describedin claim 1, wherein the online content relates to a sitcom program. 36.A system as described in claim 1, wherein the online content relates toan interactive game show program.
 37. A system as described in claim 1,wherein the online content is stored in one selected from the groupconsisting of: magnetic tape, compact disc, digital versatile disc,computer hard drive, random access memory, read only memory, CD ROM, amagnetic data storage medium, and an optical data storage medium.
 38. Asystem as described in claim 1, wherein the online content relates to apolling question.
 39. A system as described in claim 22, wherein theonline content contains additional information related to the musicvideo program selected from the group consisting of: biographicalinformation on an artist, a concert schedule, and information on buyinggoods related to the artist.
 40. A system as described in claim 1,wherein the online content contains a query for the user to respond to apoll.
 41. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the online contentis selected based, at least in part, on a user profile.
 42. A system asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the program is selected based, at least inpart, on a user profile.
 43. A system as described in claim 42, whereinthe user profile is stored in a storage device at one of the locationsselected from the group consisting of: a user station, a personalcomputer, a cable head-end, a cable box, a satellite receiver, anintranet site, an Internet site, and a satellite operations center. 44.A system as described in claim 1, wherein the address relates to apolling question.
 45. A system as described in claim 1, furthercomprising a data management storage device, wherein information aboutthe user is stored in the data management storage device.
 46. A systemas described in claim 45, wherein an analysis is performed on the userinformation.
 47. A system as described in claim 45, wherein the userinformation contains user clicks made by the user on a user interfacewhile using an online service provider.
 48. A system as described inclaim 45, wherein information about a plurality of users is stored inthe data management storage device.
 49. A system as described in claim45, wherein the user information contains information selected from thegroup consisting of: the geographic location of the user, clicks made bythe user on a user interface while using an on line service provider,user viewing habits, and demographics of the user.
 50. A system asdescribed in claim 45, wherein the program is selected, at least inpart, based on the user information.
 51. A system as described in claim45, wherein the data management storage device is located at a locationselected from the group consisting of: a user station, a personalcomputer, a cable head-end, a cable box, a satellite receiver, asatellite operations center, an intranet site, a public network, aprivate network, and an Internet site.
 52. A system as described inclaim 45, wherein the programming signal contains a predeterminedadvertisement and wherein selection of the predetermined advertisementis based, at least in part, on the user information.
 53. A system asdescribed in claim 45, wherein the online content is based, at least inpart, on the user information.
 54. A system as described in claim 45,wherein the address is selected, at least in part, based on the userinformation.
 55. A system as described in claim 45, wherein the onlinecontent contains an advertisement and wherein the advertisement isselected, at least in part, based on the user information.
 56. A systemas described in claim 45, wherein the programming signal contains agraphics segment and wherein the graphics segment is selected, at leastin part, based on the user information.
 57. A method for providing aprogramming signal containing a program and at least one addressidentifying online content relating to the program from an onlineinformation source, the method comprising: combining the address and theprogram into the programming signal; and transmitting the programmingsignal to a user; wherein, at some time after transmitting the address,the online content is automatically retrieved and presented to the userin conjunction with the program.
 58. A method as described in claim 57,wherein the steps of combining and transmitting are performed at a Webhosting site.
 59. A method as described in claim 57, wherein theprogramming signal is transmitted via at least one transmission systemselected from the group consisting of: the Internet, an intranet,terrestrial broadcast, cable, satellite broadcast, radio frequencybroadcast, fiber optics, a telephone circuit, a wireless connection, apublic network, and a private network.
 60. A method as described inclaim 57, wherein the program is a previously recorded program on arecording medium.
 61. A method as described in claim 60, wherein therecording medium is at least one selected from the group consisting of:VHS tape, compact disc, digital versatile disc, magnetic tape, computerhard drive, random access memory, read only memory, CD ROM, a magneticdata storage medium, and an optical data storage medium.
 62. A method asdescribed in claim 57, wherein the program is transmitted as a liveevent.
 63. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the programcomprises at least one form selected from the group consisting of:audio, data, video, graphics, animation, text, video stills, slow framevideo, and multimedia.
 64. A method as described in claim 57, whereinthe address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the onlineinformation source which is an Internet site.
 65. A method as describedin claim 57, further comprising the step of storing the address prior totransmission.
 66. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the addressis stored in a memory device, the memory device comprising at least oneselected from the group consisting of: compact disc, digital versatiledisc, magnetic tape, computer hard drive, random access memory, readonly memory, CD ROM, a server, a magnetic data storage medium, and anoptical data storage medium.
 67. A method as described in claim 57,wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.68. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the online informationsource comprises one selected from the group consisting of: an intranet,the Internet, a public network, and a private network.
 69. A method asdescribed in claim 57, wherein the online content comprises content in aform selected from the group consisting of: text, graphics, video, data,audio, animation, video stills, slow frame video, and multimedia.
 70. Amethod as described in claim 57, wherein the program is a sportsprogram.
 71. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the program isan advertisement.
 72. A method as described in claim 57, wherein theonline content is an advertisement.
 73. A method as described in claim57, wherein the program is a motion picture program.
 74. A method asdescribed in claim 57, wherein the program is a game show program.
 75. Amethod as described in claim 57, wherein the program is a video program.76. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the program is a liveprogram.
 77. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the program isan audio program.
 78. A method as described in claim 57, wherein theprogram is a music video program.
 79. A method as described in claim 57,wherein the program is a news program.
 80. A method as described inclaim 57, wherein the program comprises video and audio and the addressis embedded in a non-presented portion of the program.
 81. A method asdescribed in claim 80, wherein the non-presented portion of the programis a vertical blanking interval.
 82. A method as described in claim 80,wherein the non-presented portion of the program is a horizontalblanking interval.
 83. A method as described in claim 80, wherein thenon-presented portion of the program is the audio portion of theprogram.
 84. A method as described in claim 80, wherein thenon-presented portion of the program is a subcarrier of the program. 85.A method as described in claim 80, wherein the non-presented portion ofthe program is a data channel.
 86. A method as described in claim 57,wherein the programming signal is in digital format.
 87. A method asdescribed in claim 57, wherein the programming signal is in analogformat.
 88. A method as described in claim 66, wherein multipleaddresses are stored in a link file in the memory device.
 89. A methodas described in claim 88, wherein the link file is transmitted to theuser.
 90. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the address isselected based on a profile of a collection of users.
 91. A method asdescribed in claim 57, wherein the online content relates to a sitcomprogram.
 92. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the onlinecontent relates to an interactive game show program.
 93. A method asdescribed in claim 57, wherein the online content is stored in oneselected from the group consisting of: magnetic tape, compact disc,digital versatile disc, computer hard drive, random access memory, readonly memory, CD ROM, a magnetic data storage medium, and an optical datastorage medium.
 94. A method as described in claim 57, wherein theonline content relates to a polling question.
 95. A method as describedin claim 78, wherein the online content contains additional informationrelated to the music video program selected from the group consistingof: biographical information on an artist, a concert schedule, andinformation on buying goods related to the artist.
 96. A method asdescribed in claim 57, wherein the online content contains a query forthe user to respond to a poll.
 97. A method as described in claim 57,wherein the online content is selected based, at least in part, on auser profile.
 98. A method as described in claim 57, wherein the programis selected based, at least in part, on a user profile.
 99. A method asdescribed in claim 98, wherein the user profile is stored in a storagedevice at one of the locations selected from the group consisting of: auser station, a personal computer, a cable head-end, a cable box, asatellite receiver, an intranet site, an Internet site, and a satelliteoperations center.
 100. A method as described in claim 57, wherein theaddress relates to a polling question.
 101. A method as described inclaim 57, further comprising retrieving information about the user froma data management storage device.
 102. A method as described in claim101, wherein the method further comprises the step of performing ananalysis on the user information.
 103. A method as described in claim101, wherein the user information contains user clicks made by the useron a user interface while using an online service provider.
 104. Amethod as described in claim 101, wherein information about a pluralityof users is stored in the data management storage device.
 105. A methodas described in claim 101, wherein the user information containsinformation selected from the group consisting of: the geographiclocation of the user, clicks made by the user on a user interface whileusing an on line service provider, user viewing habits, and demographicsof the user.
 106. A method as described in claim 101, wherein the methodfurther comprises selecting the program based, at least in part, on theuser information.
 107. A method as described in claim 101, wherein thedata management storage device is located at a location selected fromthe group consisting of: a user station, a personal computer, cablehead-end, a cable box, a satellite receiver, an intranet site, a publicnetwork, a private network, and an Internet site.
 108. A method asdescribed in claim 101, wherein the program contains a predeterminedadvertisement and wherein selection of the predetermined advertisementis based, at least in part, on the user information.
 109. A method asdescribed in claim 101, wherein the online content is based, at least inpart, on the user information.
 110. A method as described in claim 101,wherein the address is selected, at least in part, based on the userinformation.
 111. A method as described in claim 101, wherein the onlinecontent contains an advertisement and wherein the advertisement isselected, at least in part, based on the user information.
 112. A methodas described in claim 101, wherein the programming signal contains agraphics segment and wherein the graphics segment is selected, at leastin part, based on the user information.
 113. A computer readable mediumcontaining instructions for providing a programming signal containing aprogram and at least one address identifying online content relating tothe program from an online information source, by: combining the addressand the program into the programming signal; and transmitting theprogramming signal; wherein, at some time after transmitting theaddress, the online content is automatically retrieved and presented toa user in conjunction with the program.
 114. A computer readable mediumas described in claim 113, wherein the steps of combining andtransmitting are performed at a Web hosting site.
 115. A computerreadable medium as described in claim 113 wherein the programming signalis transmitted via at least one transmission system selected from thegroup consisting of: the Internet, an intranet, terrestrial broadcast,radio frequency broadcast, cable, satellite broadcast, fiber optics, atelephone circuit, a wireless connection, a public network, and aprivate network.
 116. A computer readable medium as described in claim113 wherein the program is a previously recorded program on a recordingmedium.
 117. A computer readable medium as described in claim 113wherein the recording medium is at least one selected from the groupconsisting of: VHS tape, compact disc, digital versatile disc, magnetictape, computer hard drive, random access memory, read only memory, CDROM, a magnetic data storage medium, and an optical data storage medium.118. A computer readable medium as described in claim 113 wherein theprogram is transmitted as a live event.
 119. A computer readable mediumas described in claim 113 wherein the program comprises at least oneform selected from the group consisting of: audio, data, video,graphics, animation, text, video stills, slow frame video, andmultimedia.
 120. A computer readable medium as described in claim 113,wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the onlineinformation source which is an Internet site.
 121. A computer readablemedium as described in claim 113, wherein the instructions furthercomprise the step of storing the address prior to transmission.
 122. Acomputer readable medium as described in claim 113, wherein the addressis stored in a memory device, the memory device comprising at least oneselected from the group consisting of: compact disc, digital versatiledisc, magnetic tape, computer hard drive, random access memory, readonly memory, CD ROM, a server, a magnetic data storage medium, and anoptical data storage medium.
 123. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 113, wherein the online information source is anInternet service provider.
 124. A computer readable medium as describedin claim 113, wherein the online information source comprises oneselected from the group consisting of: an intranet, the Internet, apublic network, and a private network.
 125. A computer readable mediumas described in claim 113, wherein the online content comprises contentin a form selected from the group consisting of: text, graphics, video,data, audio, animation, video stills, slow frame video, and multimedia.126. A computer readable medium as described in claim 113, wherein theprogram is a sports program.
 127. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 113, wherein the program is an advertisement.
 128. Acomputer readable medium as described in claim 113, wherein the onlinecontent is an advertisement.
 129. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 113, wherein the program is a motion picture program.130. A computer readable medium as described in claim 113, wherein theprogram is a game show program.
 131. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 113, wherein the program is a video program.
 132. Acomputer readable medium as described in claim 113, wherein the programis a live program.
 133. A computer readable medium as described in claim113, wherein the program is an audio program.
 134. A computer readablemedium as described in claim 113, wherein the program is a music videoprogram.
 135. A computer readable medium as described in claim 113,wherein the program is a news program.
 136. A computer readable mediumas described in claim 113, wherein the program comprises video and audioand the address is embedded in a non-presented portion of the program.137. A computer readable medium as described in claim 136, wherein thenon-presented portion of the program is a vertical blanking interval.138. A computer readable medium as described in claim 136, wherein thenon-presented portion of the program is a horizontal blanking interval.139. A computer readable medium as described in claim 136, wherein thenon-presented portion of the program is the audio portion of theprogram.
 140. A computer readable medium as described in claim 136,wherein the non-presented portion of the program is a subcarrier of theprogram.
 141. A computer readable medium as described in claim 136,wherein the non-presented portion of the program is a data channel. 142.A computer readable medium as described in claim 113, wherein theprogramming signal is in digital format.
 143. A computer readable mediumas described in claim 113, wherein the programming signal is in analogformat.
 144. A computer readable medium as described in claim 122,wherein multiple addresses are stored in a link file in the memorydevice.
 145. A computer readable medium as described in claim 144,wherein the link file is transmitted to the user.
 146. A computerreadable medium as described in claim 113, wherein the address isselected based on a profile of a collection of users.
 147. A computerreadable medium as described in claim 113, wherein the online contentrelates to a sitcom program.
 148. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 113, wherein the online content relates to aninteractive game show program.
 149. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 113, wherein the online content is stored in oneselected from the group consisting of: magnetic tape, compact disc,digital versatile disc, computer hard drive, random access memory, readonly memory, CD ROM, a magnetic data storage medium, and an optical datastorage medium.
 150. A computer readable medium as described in claim113, wherein the online content relates to a polling question.
 151. Acomputer readable medium as described in claim 134, wherein the onlinecontent contains additional information related to the music videoprogram selected from the group consisting of: biographical informationon an artist, a concert schedule, and information on buying goodsrelated to the artist.
 152. A computer readable medium as described inclaim 113, wherein the online content contains a query for the user torespond to a poll.
 153. A computer readable medium as described in claim113, wherein the online content is selected based, at least in part, ona user profile.
 154. A computer readable medium as described in claim113, wherein the program is selected based, at least in part, on a userprofile.
 155. A computer readable medium as described in claim 154,wherein the user profile is stored in a storage device at one of thelocations selected from the group consisting of: a user station, apersonal computer, a cable head-end, a cable box, a satellite receiver,an intranet site, an Internet site, and a satellite operations center.156. A computer readable medium as described in claim 113, wherein theaddress relates to a polling question.
 157. A computer readable mediumas described in claim 113, wherein the instructions further comprise thestep of retrieving information about the user from a data managementstorage device.
 158. A computer readable medium as described in claim157, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of performing ananalysis on the user information.
 159. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 157, wherein the user information contains userclicks made by the user on a user interface while using an onlineservice provider.
 160. A computer readable medium as described in claim157, wherein information about a plurality of users is stored in a datamanagement storage device.
 161. A computer readable medium as describedin claim 157, wherein the user information contains information selectedfrom the group consisting of: the geographic location of the user,clicks made by the user on a user interface while using an on lineservice provider, user viewing habits, and demographics of the user.162. A computer readable medium as described in claim 157, wherein theinstructions further comprise the step of selecting the program based,at least in part, on the user information.
 163. A computer readablemedium as described in claim 157, wherein the data management storagedevice is located at a location selected from the group consisting of: auser station, a personal computer, a cable head-end, a cable box, asatellite receiver, an intranet site, a public network, a privatenetwork, and an Internet site.
 164. A computer readable medium asdescribed in claim 157, wherein the program contains a predeterminedadvertisement and wherein selection of the predetermined advertisementis based, at least in part, on the user information.
 165. A computerreadable medium as described in claim 157, wherein the online content isbased, at least in part, on the user information.
 166. A computerreadable medium as described in claim 157, wherein the address isselected, at least in part, based on the user information.
 167. Acomputer readable medium as described in claim 157, wherein the onlinecontent contains an advertisement and wherein the advertisement isselected, at least in part, based on the user information.
 168. Acomputer readable medium as described in claim 157, wherein theprogramming signal contains a graphics segment and wherein the graphicssegment is selected, at least in part, based on the user information.169. A method for transmitting to a viewer video programming and atleast one address useable for retrieving over a network from at leastone server on the network on-line information segments having contentrelated to the video programming for viewing in respective predeterminedtiming relationship with the video programming, comprising the steps of:providing the at least one address; generating a signal carrying thevideo programming; encoding the signal to carry the at least one addressin respective specified timing relationship with the video programming;and transmitting the signal encoded with the at least one address to aviewer, wherein the transmitted signal is used for presenting the videoprogramming carried by the signal for viewing, and is decoded to extractthe at least one address for retrieving the related on-line informationsegments over the network from the at least one server for viewing inrespective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming.170. A method as described in claim 169, wherein the step of encodingthe signal that carries the at least one address comprises encoding thesignal to carry each one of the at least one address with an associatedtiming indicia for controlling when each one of the at least one addressis used for retrieving respective ones of the on-line informationsegments for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationshipwith the video programming.
 171. A method as described in claim 169,further comprising the steps of creating at least certain ones of theon-line information segments retrievable from respective ones of the atleast one server, storing the created on-line information segments atrespective ones of the at least one network server, providing at leastone address for retrieving the created on-line information segments, andencoding the signal to carry the at least one address for retrieving thecreated on-line information segments in respective specified timingrelationship with the video programming carried thereon beforetransmission thereof to the viewer.
 172. A method as described in claim169, wherein the decoding of the encoded signal is carried out inproximity to where the viewing of the video programming and the on-lineinformation segments takes place.
 173. A method as described in claim169, wherein the decoding of the signal is carried out remotely fromwhere the viewing of the video programming and the related on-lineinformation segments takes place, and the at least one address extractedfrom the encoded signal is provided to the viewer over the network. 174.A method as described in claim 169, wherein the network comprises theInternet; the at least one address comprises at least one uniformresource locator; the at least one server comprises at least oneInternet web site; and the on-line information segments comprise atleast one web page retrieved over the Internet from the at leastInternet web site using the at least one uniform resource locator. 175.A method as described in claim 169, wherein the video programmingcomprises educational subject matter.
 176. A method as described inclaim 169, wherein the video programming comprises entertainment subjectmatter.
 177. A method as described in claim 169, wherein the videoprogramming comprises advertising subject matter.
 178. A method asdescribed in claim 169, wherein the signal is a television signal. 179.A method as described in claim 177, wherein the television signal isanalog.
 180. A method as described in claim 177, wherein the televisionsignal is digital.
 181. A system for transmitting to a viewer videoprogramming and at least one address for retrieving over a network fromat least one network server on the network on-line information segmentshaving content related to the video programming for viewing inrespective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming,comprising: a source of the at least one address; a source of a signalcarrying the video programming; an encoder responsive to the source ofthe at least one address for encoding the signal carrying the videoprogramming to carry the at least one address in respective specifiedtiming relationship with the video programming; and a broadcast systemfor transmitting the encoded signal to a viewer, wherein the transmittedsignal is used for presenting the video programming carried by thesignal for viewing, and is decoded to extract the at least one addressfor retrieving the related on-line information segments over the networkfrom the at least one server for viewing in respective predeterminedtiming relationship with viewing of the video programming.
 182. A systemas described in claim 181, further comprising a computer coupled to thenetwork for creating at least certain ones of the on-line informationsegments and for sending the created on-line information segments torespective ones of the at least one server on the network for storagetherein, wherein the encoder encodes the signal with at least oneaddress for retrieving the created on-line information segments inrespective specified timing relationship with the video programming.183. A system as described in claim 181, wherein the network comprisesthe Internet; the at least one address comprises at least one uniformresource locator; the at least one server comprises at least oneInternet web site; and the on-line information segments comprise atleast one web page retrieved over the Internet from the at least oneInternet web site using the at least one uniform resource locator. 184.A system as described in claim 181, wherein the video programmingcomprises educational subject matter.
 185. A system as described inclaim 181, wherein the video programming comprises entertainment subjectmatter.
 186. A system as described in claim 181, wherein the videoprogramming comprises advertising subject matter.
 187. A system asdescribed in claim 181, herein the signal is a television signal.
 188. Asystem as described in claim 181, wherein the television signal isanalog.
 189. A system as described in claim 181, wherein the televisionsignal is digital.
 190. A system as described in claim 181, wherein thebroadcast system is selected from the group consisting of: a terrestrialbroadcast system, a satellite broadcast system, a cable distributionsystem, a fiberoptic distribution system, the Internet, a privatenetwork, and a public network.